Iran, The World, and A.D.D

I will always remember this past summer as the one during which Iran opened itself up to the world. Thirty years of silence since the 1979 Iranian Revolution was shattered when violence erupted on the streets of Tehran over the disputed (read: stolen) elections. There are so many iconic images that came from endless days of protests, exposing to the world how young the Iranian population is (75% are under the age of 25), and as photograph after photograph revealed, how organized and vibrant the women’s rights movement in the country is.

In fact, it is the face of a woman, Neda, that came to symbolize the oppression of a people who have had enough of the Islamic Regime.

I think when it comes to Iran, the world suffers from A.D.D (attention deficit disorder). After weeks of endless coverage on the fallout from the Iranian elections this past summer, it seemed as though Michael Jackson died and took the public’s focus on Iran with him. The regime came down hard on the Iranian people and despite the scores of people, young people, children, and women who were beaten, raped, and killed over their democratic right to protest, the world forgot Iran.

All that changed yesterday. On the 30th anniversary of the U.S. Embassy takeover, the opposition came out in full force to show their on-going rejection of what is an illegitimate government. It was the first strong protest in about two months, a clear reminder to the world that this struggle for democracy in Iran is not over, and the desire is still there.

Neda’s mother also gave her first interview to CNN, where she recounts her daughter’s last moments, and her thoughts on Neda being a martyr for Iran.

Watch the video below and keep up the support for the Iranian movement for democracy- it is alive and well.

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One comment

From my research, I realized how serious the political problem in Iran is. I knew some facts about political situation throughout the world because I participated in various Model United Nations conferences and became aware of such problems. However, by actually concentrating in one country, I got to know how lack of democratic government in a nation and the people’s struggle to change the government could lead to such violent conflicts. There was a mixture of history, politics, nationalism, and people in the problem of Iran’s political institution.
The first thing I did after reading the post was to check the video of Neda. It was my first time using youtube to watch a video related to a serious issue. While watching the video showing Neda’s death, I felt the emotional impact Iranians most likely felt: a normal Iranian woman, who was just standing near the site, was shot. How would one not feel sorrow from watching such a terrible scene? The death of this woman made the antigovernment force even stronger, and now she is the symbol of the democratic movement in Iran.
I strongly agree to your statement on how “the world suffers from A.D.D.” The world definitely either focuses on the wrong subject or does not put enough effort to bring suffice change. I read various articles mentioning the need for other nations, like the United States or European nations, to get involved in the situation. Yes, having the support of foreign nations and having them as the standard of setting up a democratic government would be a good plan. However, I also believe that Iran could benefit from the world’s lack of attention.
Government is not something that could change easily. I remember how my elementary Korean history teacher used to tell the class that Korea’s democracy was not achieved easily. After years of protests and deaths, Korea finally achieved a democratic government that people wanted. Iran should make a similar approach. With more people becoming involved in the democratic movement, soon the government will have no choice but to change. Iran’s conservative nature rooting from its religion might make the process of conversion take more time, but Iranians should be persistent and design their own government. After all, the world’s A.D.D. might make Iran achieve something greater than just democracy.
I wish the situation in Iran will soon settle, so there won’t be any more sacrifices for democracy.